Double Impatiens plant named ‘Didi Orange Two’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Double  Impatiens  plant named ‘Didi Orange Two’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and orange-colored flowers that are fully double and positioned above and beyond the foliage.

Botanical designation: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Didi Orange Two’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of DoubleImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Didi Orange Two’.

The new Double Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Andijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new compact Double Impatienscultivars with fully double flowers, freely branching and floweringhabit, early flowering and attractive flower and foliage coloration.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in March, 2000, of a proprietary Impatiens walleriana selectionidentified as code number IW-622-3, not patented, as the female, or seedparent, with a proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified ascode number IN-1791-14, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. Thecultivar Didi Orange Two was discovered and selected by the Inventor asa flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination ina controlled environment in Andijk, The Netherlands in September, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken inAndijk, The Netherlands since September, 2000, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Didi Orange Two’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Didi Orange Two’ as a newand distinct Double Impatiens cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Orange-colored flowers that are fully double and positioned        above and beyond the foliage.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens are dark green in color        whereas leaves of plants of the female parent selection are        reddish green in color.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have fully double flowers whereas        plants of the male parent selection have semi-double flowers.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have scarlet red-colored flowers.

The new Impatiens can be compared to the Impatiens walleriana cultivarBalfiedeor, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,643). However, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Impatiensdiffered from plants of the cultivar Balfiedeor in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens were darker green in        color than leaves of plants of the cultivar Balfiedeor.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens were slightly lighter        in color than flowers of plants of the cultivar Balfiedeor.    -   3. Sepals of plants of the new Impatiens were larger than sepals        of plants of the cultivar Balfiedeor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Impatiens.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a flowering plant of ‘Didi Orange Two’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is close-up view of typicalflowers and leaves of ‘Didi Orange Two’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Didi Orange Two have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in afiberglass-covered greenhouse during the late spring with daytemperatures about 27 to 29° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C.and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Rooted young plants wereplanted in containers and had been growing for about five months whenthe photographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Didi Orange    Two.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection            identified as code number IW-622-3, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection            identified as code number IN-1791-14, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 21 days at 22 to 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 28 days at 16 to            24° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Compact, upright, outwardly spreading            and mounded plant habit.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely-branching            growth habit with about eight basal branches; lateral            branches potentially forming at every node; dense and bushy            growth. Pinching enhances branching.        -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 52 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 26 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Internode length: About 4.2 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 146B with splotches of 185B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 7 cm. Width: About 4.7 cm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate with sparse            ciliation. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing            foliage, upper surface: Darker than 147A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 147B overlaid with 184A. Fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker than 147A. Venation,            upper and lower surfaces: 147B. Petiole: Length: About            2.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 148B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Numerous and consistently double            flowers. Flower buds open similar to a rose in fullness;            flowers rounded in shape. Flowers arise from leaf axils.            Freely flowering, usually about 30 flowers and flower buds            per lateral branch. Flowers positioned above the foliage and            typically face upright or outward. Flowers last about five            to seven days under greenhouse conditions. Flowers not            persistent. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous through            the spring and summer.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4.5 cm. Depth: About 2 cm.        -   Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Length: About            1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 43D.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About 46 per flower;            imbricate. Length, outermost petals: About 2.3 cm. Width,            outermost petals: About 2.5 cm. Length, innermost petals:            About 5 mm. Width, innermost petals: About 7 mm. Shape:            Obovate to cordate. Apex: Rounded and occasionally            emarginate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: 44A. When opening, lower surface: 43B. Fully            opened, upper surface: 43A. Fully opened, lower surface:            43B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five in a single whorl; one            modified into an elongated spur. Calyx length: About 1 cm.            Calyx diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.            Spur length: About 3.8 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2            mm; at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur color: 177C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—None observed.        -   Seed/fruit.—None observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant named ‘DidiOrange Two’, as illustrated and described.